Transfus Apher Sci
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Review Meta Analysis
Use of aprotinin to reduce blood loss and transfusion in major orthopedic surgery: a meta-analysis.
Conflicting reports have been published regarding the effectiveness and safety of aprotinin in reducing blood loss and transfusion in patients undergoing orthopedic surgery. We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of aprotinin in reducing blood loss and transfusion in major orthopedic surgery. ⋯ The meta-analysis shows that aprotinin could significantly reduce blood loss and blood transfusion requirements in patients undergoing orthopedic surgery, and it did not appear to increase the risk of DVT.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of the Sangvia blood collection system on patients undergoing elective hip surgery.
We have conducted a randomized controlled study where 164 patients were randomized to receive autologous salvaged blood collected by Sangvia™ Blood Salvage System or allogeneic red cell concentrates if transfusion was indicated by clinical judgement. The study was powered to detect if transfusion of autologous blood reduced the occurrence of postoperative infections. We found no statistical significant difference in postoperative infection rate between the groups, but this may be due to the fact that postoperative infections were diagnosed in only five patients. ⋯ The mean use of allogeneic red cell concentrates was 0.93 units (both groups combined), indicating that the transfusion policy may have been too liberal. There was a highly significant inverse correlation between pre-operative haemoglobin concentration and transfusion of allogeneic blood. In a patient population with a low frequency of postoperative infection, a larger study is needed to clarify if autologous salvaged blood protects against postoperative infections.
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Little is known about the occurrence of transfusion-related acute lung injury(TRALI) in Chinese paediatric patients. As such, a retrospective review of medical records from January 2008 to December 2011 was undertaken. ⋯ The incidence of TRALI was found to be lower than reported previously, but TRALI is under-recognised, under-reported and undertreated.
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Prothrombin Complex Concentrate (PCC) is increasingly used for the emergency reversal of the effects of Vitamin K antagonists due to the increased use of the latter. There is no consensus on dosage protocols for its use. There is evidence that small fixed doses are effective. We report the result of the use of a simple three dose level protocol i.e. 2000 IU for CNS bleeds, 1500 IU for other bleeds and 1000 IU for non bleeders. ⋯ A simple three level low fixed dose protocol is cost effective in reversing the majority of patients' anticoagulation. Delay in initiating treatment for the reversal of VKA and adherence to protocols remained problematic.
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Case Reports
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura presenting with pathologic fracture: a case report.
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura is an acute syndrome with abnormalities in multiple organ systems, which becomes manifest with microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia. The hereditary or acquired deficiency of ADAMTS-13 activity leads to an excess of high molecular weight von Willebrand factor multimers in plasma, leading to platelet aggregation and diffuse intravascular thrombus formation, resulting in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Thrombotic lesions occurring in TTP leads to ischemia and convulsion. ⋯ We herein report a case with a pathologic fracture due to convulsion secondary to thrombotic thrombocytopenic pupura. Thrombotic lesions occurring in TTP may lead to ischemia and convulsion, as in our patient and pathological fractures presented in our case report may occur as a result of severe muscle contractions associated with convulsive activity. Thrombotic thrombocytopenic pupura is a disease that involves many organ systems and thus may have a very wide spectrum of clinical presentations.